At Least 20 Dead After Boat Capsizes in Lake Maï-Ndombe, Congo

At Least 20 Dead After Boat Capsizes in Lake Maï-Ndombe, Congo
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At least 20 people have died and several others are missing after a passenger boat overturned in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo, Arab News reported. The vessel was traveling on Lake Maï-Ndombe late Thursday when it capsized during a journey toward the capital, Kinshasa. Local church officials said a recently ordained Catholic deacon was among those on board.

Residents from the nearby town of Inongo said the boat had departed from Kiri before it sank between the villages of Bobeni and Lobeke around 8 p.m. Authorities are still attempting to determine the exact number of passengers, fatalities, and survivors. Provincial governor Kevani Nkoso stated that emergency teams are gathering information from the site before issuing an official toll.

Deadly accidents involving river and lake transport have become increasingly common in the region. With limited and poorly maintained road networks, many residents opt for inexpensive wooden boats that are often overcrowded and in poor condition. Safety equipment such as life jackets is rarely available, and nighttime travel — common for cost and scheduling reasons — makes rescue operations far more difficult.

Earlier this month, another incident left 64 people missing in the DRC, while more than 190 people were killed in two separate capsizing events in September, incidents officials blamed on improper loading and nighttime navigation.